U.S. Supreme Court justices divided over Texas abortion law

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on
Wednesday appeared closely divided as it considered its first
major abortion case in nearly a decade, with pivotal Justice
Anthony Kennedy giving little indication how he would rule in a
challenge to a Texas law imposing strict regulations on clinics
and abortion doctors.

Kennedy, who often casts the deciding vote in close cases,
at one point suggested sending the case back to a lower court
for further evidence to be introduced on the law's impact, which
could mean the case might not be resolved for years.

With the court one member short after the Feb. 13 death of
Justice Antonin Scalia, the court could be split 4-4.

A 4-4 decision would let stand a lower-court ruling that
affirmed the Texas law but no nationwide legal precedent would
be set on whether other states can enact similar measures. If
Kennedy, a conservative, sides with the four liberals, the court
could strike the law down.
(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)